Reason to become a Scientist #1

Reason #1: So you can tell poisonous salad from non-poisonous salad in your local supermarket.

A trained botanist in Hanover, Germany was buying some pre-packaged salad when he noticed the abundance of common groundsel (senecio vulgaris, also known as Ragweed). He alerted the store, who removed all the salad and sent a sample to the University of Bonn for testing.

They detected 2,500 micrograms of poison in 150g of salad (and in a brilliant bit of journalism, Reuter's online points out that this is 2,500 times more than the recommended amount of daily poison).

Scientists 1: Retailers, Farmers and Journalists 0.

Climate change and politics

An open letter to Senator Fielding, the man who supports climate sceptics and willingly gives them an open platform, from Will Steffan, the leading ANU climate scientist and one of the Australian delegates at the Copenhagen talks.

Well worth reading for both tone and information.

http://www.crikey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/ltr-senator-fielding-22-july-09.pdf

One small step

In 1969, the Beatles played their final concert on the roof of a shopping mall; the Brady Bunch premiered on TV; the Vietnam War protest stepped up a notch; 32 of the best musicians of the era played at Woodstock...

And man walked on the moon.

Time to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first Moonwalk (years before Micheal Jackson). It's happened again a few times since but now that we know we can do that, the focus has been on the international space station, designed as not only an outer space research station but a potential stepping stone towards journeys further into our solar system. Already pychological and physical tests are underway to simulate a journey to Mars, and as our understanding of space and time improve, there is the potential to go wider and further.

Which brings up an interesting debate on the value of space research and exploration - many people would argue that charity begins at home, that the resources spent on space exploration would be better invested in dealing with issues like poverty, climate change and famine.

I personally am a huge supporter of space research and exploration but wonder what reactions to another moon mission would be today in the face of the GFC and climate change...

Highlights from Hansard (or 'why am I earning less than these people')

Senator ABETZ—I do not need to know the matters, but do you take it upon yourself to proactively encourage the minister and the government to consider certain matters, or do you
see your role as just responding to requests from the minister?

Senator Carr—Proactively.

Senator ABETZ—I know the previous chief scientist saw that as part of his role. As I understand it, the position is as an independent Chief Scientist. Is that right?

Prof. Sackett—That is absolutely correct.

Senator ABETZ—That is why I think it was not helpful for the minister to intervene in trying to answer for you and I would like to hear from the independent Chief Scientist.

Senator Carr—You are an absolute prat.

Prof. Sackett—I am pleased to answer the question.

Senator ABETZ—Chair, if you want standards in this committee then the minister has to abide by them.

CHAIR—I do not know whether that it is unparliamentary as such.

Senator Carr—You are getting on your high horse. You asked the question whether the Chief Scientist acts proactively and I can assure the committee that she does. She has a standing invitation, which she exercises, to actually contact me and other ministers, which she does regularly.

Senator ABETZ—The independent Chief Scientist should be given the courtesy of being able to answer for herself without a bully boy minister trying to intervene.

CHAIR—Senator Abetz!

Senator ABETZ—Chair, if you allow that sort of description of me then you have got to allow it back the other way. I should withdraw that comment about the minister, and I do, and I would invite the minister to do the same.

*And so it continues. Boring I know. I had to read this stuff for two hours today so though I would spread the pain. I had flashbacks to 'teaching' in London with me being the CHAIR (although those kids probably wouldn't have used the word 'proactively')
** Or the word prat. I can think of a few others they probably would have substituted....